SEBRING - The Sebring High School baseball team has a new coach in Jasone DeWitt. DeWitt was the baseball coach at Lake Wales High School before taking the job at Sebring.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to be the Sebring High baseball coach," DeWitt said. "This is a great community that supports baseball and coaching at Sebring alllows me to be closer and with my family more and still be able to do what I love."

DeWitt graduated from Avon Park High School in 1991, where he was a standout on the Red Devil baseball team.

He played for South Florida Community College, Polk Community College and Embry-Riddle University.

The talented DeWitt played for two years in the Independent Frontier League and when his playing career ended, went into coaching.

DeWitt was an assistant at Sebring High in 1997-1998 and at South Florida Community College from 1998-2002. He was an associate scout for the Colorado Rockies and took the head coaching job at Lake Wales in 2002, where he has enjoyed a lot of success.

DeWitt, who will teach science, was a popular choice to take over the Sebring program.

"Jason is a great choice to be the new Sebring baseball coach," said Sebring High athletic director Terry Quarles. "He's been a head coach and done a great job at Lake Wales.

"He's from the area and we wanted to bring him back home."

Former Sebring High baseball coach Buck Rapp stepped down after two years at the helm of the Blue Streaks to spend more time with his family.

Sebring placed second in the Class 6A-District 9 tournament and qualified for the state playoffs in May where they lost in the regional quarterfinals.

The Blue Streaks have a solid nucleus of players returning giving DeWitt an excellent opportunity to have some success in his first season.

"I want my passion and energy for the game to rub off on the players," DeWitt said. "We'll be prepared, hustle, work hard in the classroom and represent the school and community with class."